The Sand Gnats’ Michael Fulmer throws the first pitch at the top of the fifth in their 1-0 loss to the Hickory Crawdads on SundayPhoto by Allison Brooks

By Allison Brooks

Staff writer

Looking for something fun and affordable to do now that summer is almost here? One option is to head down to historic Grayson Stadium and catch a Sand Gnats game.

The Sand Gnats (12-8) are a minor league baseball team and an affiliate of the New York Mets. Starting May 2, the Sand Gnats will host a weeklong home stretch. They first play Maryland’s Delmarva Shorebirds and close the week with New Jersey’s Lakewood BlueClaws.

General admission is only $8 at the gate, and if you purchase your ticket in advance you can get it for $7.

“The Sand Gnats definitely want to pull from the college market that we have here in Savannah,” said Ryan Kirwan, the Sand Gnats’ vice president of public affairs. “Our Monday nights have also been extremely popular over the past few years since we started our Kroger Dollar Monday program,” she said.

For Monday night games, you can get a $1 admission ticket through www.savannahnow.com or www.e93fm.com. You can also pick up a coupon at Kroger or show your Kroger Plus Card at the gate.

Once you’re inside the ballpark, the Sand Gnats offer a variety of $1 food and drink specials, including hotdogs, soda, and Natural Light beer. “There’s a lot to be said for getting three hours of entertainment for around $5,” said John Katz, the Sand Gnats’ president.

If you want to learn more, go to the Sand Gnats’ website or their Facebook page. “We offer different promotions every day of the week,” said Katz.

They also host several special events throughout the season, including “Pink in the Park Night” on May 5, a 5K on June 23 and a fireworks display on July 4.

“In our inaugural ‘Pink in the Park Night’ last year, we raised over $5,000 in one evening,” said Kirwan. “We offer our fans the chance to bid on pink jerseys which are worn by our team on this night. 100 percent of the proceeds from this auction go directly to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Coastal Georgia Affiliate.”

So if you have an extra $10 and you want something to do, check out a Sand Gnats game. You’ll get to watch great baseball, hear everything from Lady Gaga to the Beatles, and the Gnaturals—the Sand Gnats’ entertainment crew—take charge of promotions and competitions between innings.